Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

- H. G. BUHOUP.

' GAR COUPLING. No. 498,381. Patented May 30, 1893.

wear thereon which removesthe draft ofthe monly constructed, a single stem is used and UNITED STATES-7 HARRY o. BUHoUgor CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

P T NT-(OF IC CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,381, datedlviay 30, 1893.

Application filed Fehruary 8, 1893.

To a, whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, HARRY O. BUHoUP, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and'State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; "and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a plan view of two couplers embodying my invention coupled together-e one of said couplers being in horizontal section to show the position of the spring, looking block, and kicker-casting when the parts are coupled. Fig. 2, is a horizontal section of one of the couplers showing the position of, the locking block, spring, and kicker-casting when in the act of uncoupling. Fig. 3, is a plan view of two couplers having the lines now in use coupled together. Fig. 4, is a View.

similar to Fig.3, but showing the effect of coupler from the center line creatinga wedge action and rendering the couplersliable to separate without the opening of the knuckle. Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of that class of car couplers generally designated twin 3' aw couplers, or vertical couplers; and has for its object, first, to overcome the wear on the points of the knuckles andthe tendency of the coupler to pull apart without the knuckle opening; and second, to so combine the knuckle, kicker and locking block of a vertical coupler, that the kicker may beactuated by and actuate the knuckle with a very slight or minimum movement of the locking block. In this class of couplers as. now comthe lines of ,the coupler (see Fig. 3), are such as to allow of considerable space (as indicated at a), between the guard arm and knuckle, when two couplers are coupled up, in order to allow for curving. As a result of such a construction the constant wear on the inner surfaces of the knuckles (see b Fig. 4) very soon creates a wedge and renders the couplers liable to pull apart without the opening of the knuckle. To overcome such objection Serial 110,4 1,484. (No model.)

I provide each coupler with two or more stems, and form the couplers on substantially the lines indicated in Fig. 1,that is to say, with from thelocking-block, a greater movement of the locking-block was requiredithan could be readily allowedin the construction of most couplers, and where springs were used-to actuate the kicker they have been so combined with thekicke'r and locking'blo'ckjas either'to be kept underconstant tension which aifected their usefulness, or else have been so located with relation thereto, as torequire more space within the headthan could be safelygiven' them. 9 To overcome these objections, I combine a wing'lock or locking block and a kickercasting, by means of an interposed spring, so arranged as to becompressed by the initial movement ofthe locking-blockandto actu-i ate the kicker-casting to the full extent of its movement the instant the locking block passes the tail piece of the knuckle; and such a (30inon'd feature of myinvention.

- There are other, minor features of invention, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

bination or its equivalent embodies the sectratemy invention, 1, indicates a couplerhead provided with a guard arm 2, ears 3, wherein the knuckle 4'is pivoted, and with two or more stems 5, 5, pivoted to the head as at 6, 6, and which may have the usual or any approved form of draft and buffing. springs. The lines on which the coupler head and knuckle are formed, (see Fig. 1,) aresuchthat when two couplers are coupled up there will besubstantially no lost space which will permit of the independent lateral or longitudinal movement of the couplers, one upon the other, or in fact any independent movement of the couplers, except that incident to the inequalities of castings, the ordinary expansion and contraction of metals, and the vertical movement required in this class of couplers. The knuckle 4 is provided with the usual tail piece 7, which is adapted to swing within the head 1.

8 indicates apivoted wing lock or looking block, having its front face 8 concave to accommodate the sweep of the tail piece 7 of the knuckle 4, and its rear surface straight or slightly concave to accommodate the spring which actnates the kickerscasting,

9 indicates the kicker-casting of somewhat triangular form having a concave face 9, adapted to accommodate the convex end of the tail-piece 7. e oted within the head 1 in rearof thetail piece 7 and so that one of its horns 91 shall stand back of the tail piece while its other horn 9 shall projectona line parallel with but back of the wing lock or locking block 8. e

10 indicates a curved spring arranged transversely of and within the head 1 in rear ofthe wing lock 8,said spring being secured as at and slightly curvedfirst forward as at 10 to engage the rear face of locking block 8 and thence backward as at 10 to engage the horn 9 of the kicker-casting 9.

The construction being substantially of the character hereinbefore specified, will operate as fo1lows:'lhe initial backward movement of the wing lock or locking block 8 will compress the spring section 10, which bears on the horn 9 of the kicker-casting and cause the horn 9 to press on the tail piece 7 of knuckle 4, so that the instant the locking block 8 passes the end of tailpiece 7 the kicker-casting will automaticallyproject the tail piece and open the knuckles. Owing to the close fit of the knuckles 4, with each other,

- and the head, there being no slack between the parts, the couplers will be devoidof play upon each other in rounding curves,butwill obtain the required curving movement by the operation of the parallel stems 5, 5.

Among the advantages of my invention are the following, viz: The spring is arranged to be acted on by the initial movement of the locking block which spring creates suflicieut compression on the kicker-casting to operate it to the full extent of its movement so that the construction is adapted for use in coupler-heads which permit but a limited movement of the locking block; the spring also, has suflicient bearing on the locking block to hold it in position when the lock is forward in coupling, while in both the coupled and uncou- This kicker-casting is pivpled position of the parts the spring is virtu ally relieved fromjtension or compression.

The closefit of the two heads always holds the knuckles or coupling faces in the original position when coupled together, so that the wear will. occur atthe points indicated by w, Fig. 1, which will at least double the life to the wear of the knuckles or pivoted nose, and will obviate the wedgewear (as indicated A 2 i as ir ffe,

at b, Fig. 4)which renders the couplers liable.

to pull apart without the opening of the knuckle or nose. The two .or more parallel pivoted stems with the usual draft or buffing springs balance the head and cause it, when uncoupled, to at all times maintain a central or coupling position and to readily rightitself a,

after passing curves.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is e r 1. A twiujaw or vertical type coupler, provided with two or more pivoted stems, having its head and knuckle formed on lines Substantially as specified, whereby all lateral or curving play of the couplerson each other. F

is obviated when two couplers arecoupled up. 2. The combination of two vertical type car couplers having their heads formed on lines which prevent the lateral play of said heads on eachother, each of said couplers having two or more stems, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a vertical type coupler, the combination with the knuckle, ofakicker castingarranged to operate on the tail piece of the knuckle, a locking block, and an interposed spring secured at one end and havingits other end arranged to bear on the kicker-casting; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a vertical type car coupler, the combination with the knuckle, of a kicker-casting pivoted within the head back of the tail piece of the knuckle, a wing lock, and an interposed spring arranged transversely within the head back of the wing lock and adapted to bear thereon, said spring fixed at one end and having its'opposite end arranged to bear on the kicker-casting; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of February, 1893.

HARRY o. BUI-IOUP.

VVituesses:

P. HIEN, R. E. JANNEY. 

